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| AMERICA I 
1 Rules the World 1 



BY 



E. J. DAVID 



2d Edition, revised and corrected from 
"GREATER UNITED STATES" 



2 SAN FRANCISCO: S~ 

^3 International Printing Co., 729 Montgomery St. §E 



1904. 



TjmmmmmmmmmmmmmmfmmnmmmmmR 



AMERICA 

Rules the World 



BY 



E. J. DAVID 



2d Edition, revised and corrected from 
"GREATER UNITED STATES" 



SAN FRANCISCO: 
International Printing Co., 729 Montgomery St. 

1904. 






[LIBHftKV of OONSRESSI 
! TWO Oouies Received 
| SEP 1 1904 
, Oooyrieht Entry 

AiM ■ /"- / 1\ P 4" 

CLASS ^XXo. No. 
' COPY B ' 



Copyright 1904 

BY 

E. J. DAVID 



PREFACE. 



Great United States of America, means the unifica- 
tion of all the North and Central America into one 
solid, compact commercial and political body under one 
government. That unification is an imperious necessity 
for us ; this necessity will be felt more and more as the 
years go by; the unification will even become a question 
of life and death for us. No doubt is entertained that 
it will become a fact in a near future, for nature intend- 
ed it in giving the present configuration to the land: 
the separated parts of a great body, which have the 
same aspirations and the same interests and the same 
life will only be united by this commercial and political 
unification herein preconized. 

The results begot by the binding together of the 
commercial and political relations of the different 
States of North and Central America into an unified 
commercial and political body having common aspira- 
tions and common interests are so vast and gigantic as 
to defy the most optimistic imagination and the guesses 
of the strongest and most powerful mind. The unifica- 
tion will make this country the paramount Power in the 
World ; like the Roman citizen at the zenith of his glory 



— 4 — 

the American citizen will, after the unification has be- 
come a fact, have the whole Earth at his feet, and that 
for the best interests of humankind, for after careful 
and close investigation on the native qualities of the 
present greatest nationalities of the World, I could find 
no more brave and better man than the true American 
citizen. 

San Francisco, July, 1904. 



CHAPTER I. 
THE AMERICAN CITIZEN. 

The magic success of the Spanish war made the 
most famed mechanic of the AVorld: the American 
known throughout the foreign lands as a superior 
righting man and as a most magnanimous foe. That 
war clearly demonstrated to the astonished foreigner 
though the American citizen is most peaceful in 
the pursuits of his ideals and detests war yet, when 
perils stare him in the face, he 'will not flinch and once 
bent on strife nothing but the ultimate victory will stop 
him. 

The freedom granted to Cuba, one of the richest 
islands of the World, the large and liberal indemnity 
paid to Spain for what was practically in his hands 
attest the honesty and generosity of the American 
citizen. He did what no foreign government would 
have dared to do : to be honest and liberal in its treat- 
ment toward a weak foe; he did what no foreign 
government would have done : he kept his word by giv- 
ing the promised freedom to Cuba; he did what no 
foreign government would have done : he disdained 
centuries of machiavellic diplomatic teachings; he 
did what no foreign government would have done: he 
set a new and higher standard to the morals in inter- 



— 6 — 

national politics. The name of American has be- 
come synonimous with liberty, honesty, ability, liberal- 
ity, individuality, audacity in conception, skill in me- 
chanics and in invention. 

I may be pardoned if on such a delicate theme as 
the general character of the American citizen and the 
general character of his social system I desire to ex- 
press my own opinion in a few words. Too many of the 
foreign writers who come over the ocean to study 
America, once back in their respective countries, gener- 
ally give out in their memoranda of the United States 
the impressions received from late debarqued immi- 
grants, far from half americanized. They think them- 
selves so learned and so important that in a few 
months, in a few weeks,- even in a few days they know 
the United States from bottom up, from East to West 
and from South to North. When it takes many years 
of hard work and study to master any science, yet, 
those contemptuous fellows think, in their infallibility, 
— I might well say ignorance, — that a look at the stars 
is enough to know astronomy and her allied sciences ; 
so it is with the United States although more difficult 
to penetrate deeply than any abstract science. It is 
quite a difficult thing to appreciate with impartiality, 
but travels and long years spent abroad may have 
tempered that partiality by being able to compare 
foreign countries to my own, not on mere superficial- 
ities but by deep and actual experience. 

The true American citizen is by nature brave, 
honest, amiable, hospitable, patriotic, energetic and 
intelligent; he is practical and yet idealistic and en- 



— 7 — 

tlmsiastic. Cultivation and refinement make him a 
gentleman equal, if not superior, to the gentry of the 
best educated classes of Old Europe for manners and 
behavior. An educated American is the best and most 
generous of friends. 

The American is not greedy for money ; if he were 
he would not give away his wealth with such a pro- 
digal hand, and would not throw aside the European 
low schemes of money-making by the pursuit of dow- 
ries. It is the desire to make use of his vast energies; 
to show the ability of the individual. He knows that 
money is concrete power; that it commands learning, 
skill, experience, wisdom, talent, influence, numbers ; 
that it is the great endeavor, the great spring of power ; 
that financial success is the measurement of ability and 
intelligence. 

The American citizen is the representative of civil 
liberty and individualism. His unequaled energy, his 
indomitable perseverance and his personal indepen- 
dence made him a pioneer. He deeply trusts that his 
country is called to the highest destiny for the benefit 
of humankind. 

In the years of indisturbed peace the United States 
have undergone gigantic changes. They have growu 
rich; they have changed from an agricultural country 
into an industrial country. The standard of life has 
been raised with an undreamed of rapidity. The 
horizon has been widened ; the ever-expanding industry 
has pushed trade over the oceans ; a colonial system has 
been set up and all has had one effect in common : the- 



— 8 — 

confirmation of the democratic spirit in the noblest 
meaning in the world. 

The raising of the social level of the business man, 
the merchant and the industrial man is certainly one 
of the most prominent features. The power which the 
great representatives of industry and commerce and 
banking have to-day in the Union could not have been 
dreamed thirty years ago. The steady raising of the 
practical professions, that of the engineer and the 
scientist and the literator in comparison with the trade 
professions is to be noted. The number of men who 
unselfishly and with high ideals serve the community 
in a thousand forms is increasing every day. The 
wave of the American sciences, beaux-arts and belles- 
lettres is steadily swelling with a surprising rapidity. 

The intellectual and esthetic interests of the masses 
have grown with the higher standard of the whole 
population. The public libraries, the reading of papers, 
the formation of clubs and societies, discussions and 
lectures reach the widest circles. Meanwhile wealthy 
men, in a growing measure, devote whole and some- 
times stupendous fortunes to public benefits. Other 
important features are the new enthusiasm for the sea, 
for naval affairs, for foreign lands beyond the ocean, 
a widening of horizon which necessarily reinforces the 
spirit of independence and individual activity. Add 
the immense development of science, of industry, of 
commercial pursuits, of transportation, of means of 
communication, all democratic factors that put men on 
an equal footing and bring progress within the reach 
-of everyone. 



— 9 — 

It is justly claimed that the European civilization 
is older than ours, but it does not prove that her civiliz- 
ation is nowadays better than ours. Impeded in 
Europe by powerful destructive defects, of which the 
militarism is the principal, the higher civilization has 
already crossed the ocean; it is us now who are leading 
in the higher civilization since it means freer and better 
men. The contributions of America to civilization are 
-nnmerous, as: the diffusion of education, the widest 
religious toleration, the successful development of 
universal suffrage, the safety of property, the love for 
the Government, the efficient working and honesty of 
the Administration, the wide diffusion of property and 
well-being, the unparalleled progressiveness of the de- 
mocratic nation ; and, the most eminent contribution 
which the United States has made to civilization is 
the advance made, in America, toward the abandon- 
ment of war as a means of settling disputes between 
nations, the substitution of discussion and arbitration. 

No other country can show a similar achievement 
which deserves the respect and admiration of the 
world ; for a young country she has, since her birth, 
behaved as no country in the world has behaved as fat- 
back as history can go, and the past warrants a 
brilliant future. To hold the helm of the ship of 
government, God gave us men with great hearts, strong 
minds, true faith, lofty character and utmost abilities. 

If we take a survey of mankind in ancient and 
modern times, as regards the physical, mechanical and 
intellectual force of nations, we find nothing to com- 
pare with the United States. It is not strange that 



— 10 — 
this amazing energy, applied to resources which are 
perhaps unequaled, has made us the richest nation in 
the world. Still to-day the creation of wealth goes at 
a much greater rate than ever before. 

Americans are an exceptionally inventive people. 
Yankee ingenuity and skill are proverbial. Scientific 
discoveries are apt to find their earliest practical appli- 
cation in their country. We have the best tools, with 
the most scientific and ingenious machinery, with the 
most alert and intelligent workmen, it becomes pos- 
sible for us to pay higher wages and yet enjoy the 
advantage of the lower labor cost. Our trade, like our 
manufactures and politics have assumed world's pro- 
portions and begin to lead all the nations. 

Europeans have been accustomed to think of the 
United States as the world's great granary; to be 
aroused to the fact that it has become also the world's 
great workshop and world's political guiding star ad- 
ministers a hard shock to our powerful competitors 
across the ocean. 

It is a remarkable fact that all the fundamental 
elements of superiority in industrial production are all 
in our favor. It is probable, therefore, that our manu- 
facturing supremacy is to be permanent. These con- 
ditions are: the coal, coal oil and white coal, which are 
concrete power of first magnitude in this industrial age, 
are cheaper here than anywhere else and their supply 
practically inexhaustible ; the iron, which is the com- 
plement of coal, exists in deposits in almost all the 
States, in quality and quantity equal to any deposits 
m the world. Now Ave are raising more coal, producing 



— 11 — 

more coa 1 . oil, possessing the largest and the greatest 
number of electric plants, and melting more iron and 
steel than any other country in the world, more than 
England herself. The extensive use of machinery 
which lower labor cost ; the great skill of our mechanics 
and alertness and intelligence of our workingmen, 
though getting high wages, more than compensate the 
cheap and unskilled labor of foreigners. Cheap raw 
and great variety of materials and easy access to 
markets. The effective and extensive organization of 
business for economizing all productive and distribu- 
tive forces. The modern system of large-scale manu- 
facturing. Our statesmen, our financiers, our indus- 
trials, our commercants and our inventors are keen and 
intelligent, audacious and energetic; they participate 
to the giant size of the country. With our natural ad- 
vantages fully realized what is to prevent the United 
States from becoming the mighty leader of the manu- 
facturing and trading nations of the world and to 
remain so. 

Many other causes co-operate to produce the most 
forceful and tremendous energy of the world. After 
conquering the home market we invaded successfully 
the open markets of the world ; now we are competing 
with remarkable success with the highly protected 
home markets of the great manufacturing people of 
Europe where the sharpest competition exists. The 
real struggle, we know well, is in old European mar- 
kets because there are the greatest and richest agglom- 
erations of people on earth, the best and ready cus- 
tomers with plenty of money. The South American 



— 12 — 

markets conic next in importance. The Asiatic and 
African markets are considered as reserve markets as 
they are almost completely undeveloped on the com- 
mercial and industrial lines. 

From high success in industrial and commercial 
fields to success in financial field there is only one 
step. Ere long the United States are to become the 
greatest money market of the world. Our financiers 
and bankers rival for spirit of enterprise our manufac- 
turers and traders. 

Every year our exports show a stupendous excess 
over our imports, and we are now rapidly extending in 
the markets of the world. This excess of exports is a 
matter of congratulation, because not only it furnishes 
the undeniable evidence of industrial strength and 
prosperity of the country, but, too, because it furnishes 
the means for keeping the country well supplied with 
the gold needed as a part and basis of our currency and 
a ready means of settling our indebtedness abroad. 

We have labored hard to attain that aim, it is 
natural and reasonable that our success be generously 
recognized by our competitors. We have been and we 
are still a good customer for the European people. 

Abundant reasons exist for believing that, in spite 
of many a hard fight to win out, we will ultimately 
conquer the leadership of the world and the first place 
among the nations. There are more opportunities now 
than ever for us. To reach surely the goal let us never 
forget one of the most energetic and successful Roman, 
the favorite saying: ' ' Laboremus. " 



CHAPTER II. 
THE GREAT UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 

Nature has intangible laws ; the men as well as the 
nations cannot ignore or shun these laws under penalty 
of servitude and even of absolute extinction. In this 
age of keen rivalry among powerful nations for mas- 
tery of the world's markets, the doctrine of evolution 
and the rule of the survival of the fittest are as inex- 
orable in their operation as they are positive in the re- 
sults they bring about. The place won by an industrial 
people can only be held by unrelaxed endeavor and 
constant advance in achievement. The present ex- 
traordinary extension in every line of American ex- 
portations and the unparalleled increase of our national 
wealth is to be attributed to the large material endow- 
ments of nature, to the constitutional vigor and intelli- 
gence of the people, with a natural talent for invention 
and construction, with political freedom and without 
social caste control, with a good system of education 
and training of mind and of hand, with general oppor- 
tunity free to all, with undaunted energy to promote 
their own rapid elevation over all the civilized world. 

The general tendency of modern times is to con- 
solidate and combine. It is an era of successful 
federation, combination and consolidation as never 



— 14 — 

seen in past centuries. Political and civil bodies as well 
as industrial, commercial and financial concerns are 
grouping into large confederations and big corpora- 
tions. The economic advantages are so great that the 
consolidation has become an established factor in the 
life of nations, and will, on all probabilities, extend 
further in spite of all obstacles accumulated or thrown 
in its way. Expansion, whether for nations, associa- 
tions or individuals is a normal state. 

New conditions bring new responsibilities, new 
possibilities and new necessities. The changes that 
have taken place in the last years are now seen to shape 
the future of the nation. Ethical, political, military, 
commercial and economic reasons will combine to 
compel the United States to concern itself with the 
neighboring States. The forces of nature are all work- 
ing in the direction of unity and homogeneity ; and 
though the ultimate object may be postponed, in the 
end nature will have her way. The time is most favor- 
able ; our foreign relations are amicable ; our unex- 
ampled prosperity and happiness are a good entice- 
ment ; our finances are well-ordered and satisfactory ; 
the industry and commerce are flourishing in the in- 
terior and extending over the oceans; we can turn our 
eyes outside for peaceful and secure development and 
tranquilly determine our policy upon the questions that 
interest us and inquire seriously whether we ought not 
to advance farther the policy of peaceful commercial 
and political expansion. It is the duty of the statesman 
to anticipate the future. We have to sow before to 
reap any benefit. 



— 15 — 

If we throw a glance at a map of North America, 
we are astonished by the physical configuration of the 
land ; there exists no natural obstacle to the expansion 
of the American; artificial lines have been traced a.s 
boundaries between the different people of North 
America but we see clearly that nature intended, in one 
supreme and last effort, that North America be the 
cradle and the home of the mightiest nation that ever 
lived on earth. Progress and Civilization like men 
travels naturally from east to west. Started from 
China it passed to India, from India to Persia and fol- 
lowed a regular line through Assyria and Egypt, before 
making a jump over the Mediterranean Sea to Greece, 
then went to Italy, and lastly to France and England. 
Following their natural bent Civilization and Progress, 
lately, took the broad jump over the American Channel 
to remain with us forever, for there is no more un- 
known new West. Civilization is going to reach the 
highest point of perfection in America and the Ameri- 
can citizen will embody in himself all that is best in 
humanity. Empires fall and nations disappear but 
nature evolves and progress goes on forever. Every- 
thing points to the greatness of America. If we con- 
sider the political state of North America of to-day we 
are somewhat surprised to find in a great many points 
similar to that of England in the fifteenth century 
when Scotland and Ireland were independent. The 
little independent States were a powerful subject of 
weakness for England. She, then, never dreamed to 
become the mighty and indisputed mistress of the seas 
of to-day. The union of Scotland and Ireland to Eng- 



— 16 — 

land made Great Britain the richest nation in the world 
and the masterful ruler of the waves. The unification 
of North and Central America in one single commercial 
and political body will make the "Great United States 
of America," the future ruler of the seas and real 
toaster of the world. The natural evolution that is 
going on will inevitably bring to us the mastery of the 
world's trade before long, if we are wise enough to 
seize the opportunities; for England, the present mis- 
tress of the World's trade, has reached the maximum 
of her efforts and cannot do more, because her energy 
has been taxed to its utmost limits and her available 
resources, since the last Boer war, are beginning to 
dwindle away at a swift pace from natural causes easy 
to be discerned by experienced eyes. The consummated 
ability of her statesmen is unable to stop the gliding 
away of her power, therefore she cannot hold very 
much longer the indisputed first rank among the naval 
powers of the world ; without the mastery of the seas 
she is in great danger to lose her colonial empire and 
her high rank among the great nations of the world. 
An unfortunate naval war, a possibility always to be 
reckoned with, may swiftly deprive England of the sea 
control. and it is doubtful if she could regain her lost 
high rank in the concert of the world's great powers 
notwithstanding the recognized resourcefulness and 
great ability of her statesmen. Wealth and Power 
which are a sure indication of Progress and Civilization 
have crossed the Atlantic ocean, better denominated 
the "American Channel," in their natural westward 
travel and America their last stop, their last station is 



— 17 — 

to become the supreme power on earth for the highest 
benefit of humankind. 

The mighty hand of the progress has to-day made 
London nearer to New York than it was to Paris two 
centuries ago; swift leviathans, with all the luxury and 
comfort of a palace accomplish daily that marvelous 
fact. It takes less time to-day to go by land from 
New York to San Francisco than it took to go from 
London to Liverpool at the eighteenth century, the 
trip is, too, made in a much more pleasant way through 
flying palaces on iron roads. By telephone it takes no 
more time to converse between two persons from Bos- 
ton to Chicago or Saint Louis than it took half a cen- 
tury ago to hold the same conversation across a narrow 
London's street. Thoughts, orders, expressed feelings, 
news may be sent, rapid like lightning, flying through 
the air with the help of the common telegraph, and 
through the still more wonderful wireless telegraph, 
to any part of the world. A marvelous fluid unknown 
one and a half century ago, the electricity, has been 
domesticated to do heavy as well as delicate works, to 
furnish fire, force, light; its possibilities are unlimited. 
Even the seeming absurd and impossible frozen words 
of Rabelais have become a fact with the advent of the 
phonograph. The old sciences have been developed; 
new sciences have been founded ; discoveries and inven- 
tions have come in rapid succession and still more are 
to come. The apparent vastness of the Earth has 
shrunk considerably before the wonderful progress of 
the inventions; North America appears smaller to the 
tradesman and the traveller of to-day than England 



— 18 — 

appeared to the tradesman and the traveler of two 
hundred years ago. When Canada, Mexico, and the 
Central American Republics join their interests and 
destinies with ours we will stand much better, to reach 
quickly the first rank among the great nations of the 
world, than England after her union with Scotland and 
Ireland when she started the acquisition of her mighty 
colonial empire, her best markets, which made her rich 
and powerful. 

One circumstance that strikes all who visit Canada, 
Mexico and the Central American Republics is the 
steady growth of social, commercial, industrial and 
financial relations between the people laying to the 
North and South of an imaginary boundary line. Men 
cross over to the adjoining States in search of employ- 
ment, fields of investment, and homes. There are in 
business thousands of mercantile, industrial, agricul- 
tural citizens of the United States with their roots in 
the soil, intermarrying and giving in intermarriage all 
year round. What more natural that they should draw 
closer relations. Our concern is not for territory or 
empire, but for the people whose aspirations, interests; 
life and destinies are similar .to ours. That the in- 
habitants of these States will be benefited by the asso- 
ciation is my strong belief, and we will aid in every 
possible way to benefit these people. In all the Central 
American Republics and Canada most of the political 
men, business men, traders, real estate owners, lawyers 
and others strongly express their conviction that closer 
association with the United States will enormously 
benefit their countries. 



— 19 — 

Said President McKinley, in a message to Con- 
gress: "It is sometimes hard to determine what is best 
to do, and the best thing to do is oftentimes the hard- 
est. The prophet of evil would do nothing because he 
flinches at sacrifice and effort, and to do nothing is 
easiest and involves the least cost. On those who have 
thm lis to do there rests a responsibility which is not 
on those who have no obligations as doers. If the 
doubters were in majority there would, it is true, be 
no labor, no sacrifice, no anxiety, and no burden raised 
or carried, no contribution from our ease and purse and 
comfort to the welfare of others, or even to the exten- 
sion of our resources. There would be ease, but, also, 
there would be nothing done." 

By association with our Northern and Southern 
neighbors : Canada, the Republics of Mexico, of Guate- 
mala, of Honduras, of Salvador, of Nicaragua and of 
Costa Rica, under the name of "Great United States of 
America," we may hope to be in position to possess, 
within ourselves, the largest market in the world 
coupled with the cheapest and most efficient Govern- 
ment on earth. 

Canada is yet, to-day, under the rule of England 
but what can restrain us to help Canada from buying 
the political freedom of its people ? We are rich enough 
to pay the right price for the political liberty of tin- 
new nation yet to be born. 

The unification of North America is not an Utopian 
dream as the next centuries will prove. Good wi' 1 , 
energy, ability and perseverance will make it a reality. 



— 20 — 

Although there is almost no consciousness of the new 
nationality, yet there is a latent aspiration in our neigh- 
boring people, to join their commercial and political 
existence with us, that need only to be developed and 
called upon to receive popular answer: "Vox populi, 
vox Dei"; in every case the people will be consulted by 
referendum. It must come from a cordial assent. If 
the question once thoroughly developed is fairly put- 
before the people of those States, who live by honest 
industry, by honest trade, by honest agriculture, by 
honest means, they will take the same view and rejoice 
at it. It is all gain for them. The unbounded pros- 
perity Ave enjoy will be shared by them. 

Further girded, with a striking likeliness to Eng- 
land turned bottom up by a mighty sea-wall we shall be 
exempt from the necessity of keeping great standing 
armies, thus saving us for centuries to come from the 
vampire of militarism which curses all the great Euro- 
pean Powers. A force sufficient for police duty is all 
that the Great United States will require. 

JThe policy is not a bold one. but within our reach 
as well as to the reach of our intended associated 
Stmes; and whenever the citizen of Canada and Mex- 
ico and Central America will join us by commercial 
and political bonds we will welcome them. Then the 
mighty citizen of America greater than was the Roman 
citizen in the past centuries, will outrank any potentate 
on earth and commands, from any people, more respect 
than a King. 



— 21 — 
THE INTEROCEANIC CANAL. 



A waterway across the isthmus between the con- 
tinents of North and South America connecting the 
Atlantic and Pacific oceans has been the dream of com- 
merce for three centuries. The commercial and poli- 
tical importance of such waterway for the United 
States cannot be underrated. That isthmian canal will 
give more advantages to United States than Suez did 
for England. It will create an immense amount of 
new commerce and the United States will command 
the greater part of it. The large agricultural and 
manufacturing interests will find in it a most wonder- 
ful stimulus. It will give a strong impetus to the 
building up of our merchant marine and develop the 
sea power of the Union. In uniting our coast lines 
and in bringing the most remote portion of our terri- 
tory into much closer relations it will make the United 
States still more united and will enhance the advan- 
tages we possess to build up the richest and most 
powerful nation in the world. 

Early England recognized the importance and at- 
tempted to control the interoceanic communication by 
way of Lake Nicaragua. One century ago Von Hum- 
boldt, who explored Central America, reported: "It is 
absolutely indispensable for the United States to effect 
a passage from the Mexican Gulf to the Pacific Ocean, 
and I am certain they will do it." Some years later 
the United States Congress decreed the cutting of an 
interoceanic canal through Nicaragua, and a prealable 
examination of the route was ordered. 



— 22 — 

The British Government claimed the control of the 
proposed waterway by Nicaragua, which claim was 
strenuously opposed by our Government. Complica- 
tions intervened and led to the famous Clayton-Bulwer 
treaty. This treaty was concluded under the impres- 
sion that Great Britain would abandon her territorial 
encroachments upon America, but experience demons- 
trated that Great Britain had given up practically 
nothing in the dealing, and that only the evocation of 
might could induce her to respect any agreement. This 
treaty raised a storm of disapprobation in the United 
States and was recently abrogated in its main part so 
that the canal should be, if constructed, under absolute 
American control. 

Many surveys and estimates for the proposed 
waterway by Lake Nicaragua were made, either by 
private Companies or ordered by our Government One 
Maritime Canal Company was even organized few years 
ago with a large capital, but the Congress, upon 
demand, refused to guarantee the bonds and securities 
of the Company and it fell. Since then practically 
nothing was done though some United States Com- 
missions appointed for the purpose to examine most 
carefully the Nicaragua route have repeatedly reported 
favorably on the whole question. 

The patent defects of the Nicaragua interoceanic 
canal are that it can never be made sea level ; it is very 
long, therefore, take much time to pass across the 
isthmus ; the traffic is limited ; the locks, in case of war, 
may easily be destroyed putting the canal out of order 
when sorely needed; further, it is somewhat in the 



— 23 — 

sphere of influence of earthquakes. However, the 
principal objection is the demonstrated feasibility of 
the Panama canal in the Darien isthmus belonging to 
Colombia. That waterway, over two-third shorter than 
the Nicaragua, is half finished, and can be made sea 
level. Its construction involves gigantic engineering 
problems, but they are all known and minutiously cal- 
culated. The completion of the Panama route would 
render competition impossible for the Nicaragua canal, 
therefore, annihilate the usefulness of this waterway 
and make its enormous cost a dead loss for the United 
States. 

An event of momentous importance for the World 
has happened recently. Negotiations between the 
Colombian Republic and our Government were in 
course for the control and completion of the Panama 
canal when the citizens of the State of Panama for 
which the interoceanic waterway means so much in 
prosperity and welfare, becoming tired of the long and 
evasive negotiations as conducted by the Colombian 
Government separated again from Colombia and erect- 
ed and organized their State as an independent Re- 
public. The new-born nation asked for and was granted 
the protection of our Government against any foreign 
foe. The negociations interrupted with Colombia by 
the successful revolution of Panama were pursued satis- 
factorily with the Government of the new-born Re- 
public and a treaty gave us the right to control and 
complete the interoceanic canal for a heavy pecuniary 
compensation. 

Panama canal may be said, once opened, to be the 



— 24 — 

true key of the World's trade. The real greatness of 
the American citizen so well developed by the last suc- 
cessful war will be vastly enhanced by the opening to 
{he World's trade of that important interoceanic water- 
way. The opening of the canal will transform the sup- 
posed dream of the Great United States of America 
into a positive possibility. 



••«#«•«•«•-•«•-•"•-••»•»•»••-•»•«•• 



AMERICA FOR AMERICANS. 



The certainty that au isthmian canal is to be opened 
up in a few years give a high commercial and strategic 
values to the Carribean coasts that is thoroughly under- 
stood by our powerful competitors across the American 
Channel. A characteristic attempt was made under 
President Cleveland, to grab Venezuelian territory, but 
was frustrated by the energetic attitude of our Govern- 
ment in the enforcement of the Monroe doctrine. 

The Monroe doctrine is not aggressive toward any 
Power ; its cardinal principle is that America must not 
•be treated as a subject for a political colonization by 
any European Power. We are already powerful enough 
•to make our just observations and reclamations heard 
by European Powers. A new war, if inevitable, will 
not weaken, nor injure us much, but to the contrary, it 
-will strengthen our prominent position among the na- 
tions and make us more ambitious and enterprising. 



— 25 — 

Said President McKinley: "Grave problems come 
in the life of a nation. The generation upon which 
they are forced cannot avoid the responsibility of striv- 
ing' for their solution. It is sometimes hard to deter- 
mine what to do to solve them, but we can make an 
honest and energetic effort to that end, and if made in 
conscience, justice and honor, it will not be in vain." 

We cannot, under any pretense whatever, allow the . 
building of any Gibraltar by the European Powers in 
the Carribean sea. The seizure and occupation of 
American soil for military purpose, in violation of the 
Monroe doctrine, will be opposed by force, because 
such occupation would entail on us loss of prestige, 
weaken our position in the world, and lower us down 
in the rank of nations. AVe do not lose view that the 
machiavellic principles have still great many disciples 
among the statesmen of across the ocean, as strongly 
demonstrated by the history of the last half century. 

Go from East to West, from South to North, travel 
in any part of the United States, there you will see 
what kind of men are the American citizens, sons of 
pioneers and pioneers themselves. Their general stand- 
ard is unquestionably superior to the general standard 
of Europeans. Most peaceful in the pursuits of their 
ideals, once bent on strife nothing but the ultimate vic- 
tory will stop them. Any trouble shall be faced square- 
ly. Forbearance is not cowardice. We incontestably 
prefer peaceful pursuits to war, but when perils stare 
us in the face we will not flinch ; then, we will say again 
the words that one of the bravest of the American 
sailors— Farra gut— uttered in face of seemingly insur- 



— 26 — 

mountable obstacles: "Damn the torpedos, go ahead"; 
and so he did, and so we will do. 

It is Europeans highest interest to leave "America 
for Americans, ' ' and the blissful peace and good under- 
standing will last forever. 



AMERICA RULES THE WORLD. 



Right doing must always be proceded by right 
thinking, for to think right is the main road to success 
in the life of a man as well as that of a nation. While 
our manufactures are growing, our markets are to be 
greatly extended. To offset the precariousness of the 
foreign markets subject to be closed to our manufac- 
tures at any time by hostile legislation and prohibitive 
tariff, we must strive to expand our spheres of interest 
and to instill into our people the necessity to become a 
great sea power. It is wise to do things to keep the 
general business good and give employment to all our 
workingmen with fair wages. Our over-increasing pro- 
duction will render an over-increasing foreign market 
necessary to our social health. Expansion is a natural 
law ; it is impossible for us to stand still ; a nation must 
go forward or backward. 

The multiplication of machinery has wonderfully 
multiplied the number and improved the quality of the 
comforts. The bright star of progress brings its pro- 



— 27 — 

blems, which must find their solution in more progress. 
The older nations have aroused themselves for the 
international race for the markets of the World. This 
is a commercial age ; those who do not participate in its 
spirit are pushed aside to be subjugated and to die in 
want and poverty. 

The supremacy of the World's markets is the in- 
evitable corollary of the supremacy of the ocean or "sea 
power," according to the strong expression of captain 
Mahan, the most distinguished contemporary writer in 
the World on maritime affairs and history. The impor- 
tance of sea power is now fully recognized. I quote 
from "Expansion" by J. Strong: "whosoever, com- 
mands the sea commands the trade ; and whosoever 
commands the trade commands the riches of the World, 
and consequently the World itself." The Panama 
canal is the key of the World's trade, we possess that 
key vastly superior to that of Suez Canal ; the unifica- 
tion of North and Central America into a single com- 
mercial and political body allied to a good merchant 
marine and an efficient navy will give us the real 
mastery of the World 's trade and consequently America 
will rule the World and that far before the present 
century shall be over. 

SI VIS PACEM PARA BELLUM. 

As long as the world is divided into nations and 
races and the differences between nations and races do 
not disappear, everlasting peace between these nations 
and races is impossible. Competition means struggle 
for existence, which has been and is yet necessary to 



— 28 — 

the evolution of the higher forms of life. Therefore 
we shall have wars for many centuries to come, and we 
must be ready to defend ourselves with all means in 
uur power. The mighty battles for the supremacy of 
the world's markets are not all fought in time of peace. 
The commercial and political prominence among na- 
tions cannot and never will belong to the weak or ne- 
glectful nations. 

The Monroe doctrine and that key of the World's 
trade : the Panama canal, are worth only what our 
Navy is worth, and though she has already given 
splendid proofs of her efficiency, yet, the last Venezuela 
incident has demonstrated amply the necessity of a 
great Navy able to stand against a possible combine of 
several of our competitors of across the American 
Channel. Necessity for naval effectiveness has been 
increased; naval effectiveness needs skilled, seaman- 
ship backed by a maritime, national spirit and a power- 
ful, well-manned merchant marine, supported by a first- 
class efficient navy. 

The spirit of the Monarchy is war and conquest; 
the spirit of the Republic is peace and moderation ; yet, 
said the ancient masters of the world: "Si vis pacem, 
para bellum. ' ' 

RIOTS, REVOLTS, REVOLUTIONS. 



In a giant industrial country like ours, with in- 
numerable shops, mills and factories, with millions of 
wage-earners, periods of depression are likely to occur 



— 29 — 

from time to time. Economic laws are as compulsory 
as natural laws. 

With the unprecedented inflow of foreigners, the 
extensive use of labor-saving machinery and progress 
of inventions, our markets must continue to expand or 
men will be thrown out of employment as never before. 
It is by no means reassuring to reflect that so large and 
almost unrestricted immigration of heterogenous popu- 
lations is pouring in the United States. The proportion 
of foreigners becomes greater and greater so as to im- 
pede the rapid americanization of it. It is a serious 
menace to our civilization. It goes without saying that 
the dangerous classes are mostly recruited in it and 
these classes are swelling more rapidly than hitherto. 
Our unparalleled prosperity of these last years and the 
cheapness and facilities of travel have attracted immi- 
grants as never before. The wonder is how such a. 
formidable army of invasion is swallowed up without 
social convulsion of any sort. 

The spring of 1894 witnessed a spectacle that we 
have abundant reasons to see repeated again, with in- 
creased violence and greatly increased destruction in 
the future, if we pay no attention to the lessons of the 
past. It was the military-like organization of largo 
bodies of idle men at various points in the country for 
a march to Washington to make a demand, on the 
Federal Government, for work. About three millions 
of men were without work. The march was then con- 
sidered a good joke, exactly as were the Anarchists 
before the shooting of President McKinley. But as the 
regimental bodies, gathered at given points, took up 



— 30 — 
the march on the Nation's capital, getting their living 
at the expense of the States they were traversing, the 
movement was regarded more seriously. The great in- 
dustrial army, as it was then called, made large recruits 
on his march to Washington and at last massed his 
forces into a gigantic demonstration in the streets of 
the capital where they delivered firebrand speeches 
and threats of bloody revolution. They were boarded 
gratis and extorted from the Federal Authorities the 
promise that everything possible would be done for 
them, and then they marched away. 

An extra session of the Congress was called, not to 
give them work, but to lower again the tariff already 
so low that the manufacturing industries in the Union 
could not compete successfully in their home market 
against foreign products. This gave raise to some more 
demonstrations and a profound depression prevailed all 
over the country when McKinley was elected. How by 
good and clear-sighted legislation he set in motion a 
prodigious wave of prosperity and made the United 
States the foremost commercial and manufacturing 
nation of the world and the richest of them all, is yet 
present to the mind of all American citizens. 

The Chicago Haymarket's carnage and the riots 
that occurred in some States at the same epoch should 
open our eyes on the ills that follow a long period of 
industrial and commercial paralysis. 

Unrestricted competition always leads to overpro- 
duction. It has now become possible by means of labor- 
saving machinery and inventions to produce more of 
the necessaries and of the comforts of life than we can 



— 31 — 
consume. Increasing production is by no means an un- 
mixed good. When markets become thoroughly glutted 
prices and wages fall, and thousands upon thousands 
of workmen are thrown out of employment. Thus a 
superabundance may cause under-consumption, because 
men cannot buy unless they have something to buy 
with; and wage-earners out of employment face starva- 
tion in the midst of plenty. A man is not poor because 
he possessses no property, but because he is not work- 
ing, because he has no work to do. 

The economic results of a commercial and indus- 
trial paralysis would undoubtedly be attended by social 
and political disturbances of the gravest character. 
Theiv is a strong disposition among men, especially 
among wage-earners to charge most of the ills of their 
lot to bad government and to seek political remedy for 
these ills. Men who are long idle, whether that idleness 
is voluntary or enforced, usually degenerate morally; 
and if want is added to idleness disastrous results are 
sure to follow; the army of unemployed and discon- 
tented can become a revolutionary army. Hunger 
obeys no laws. Enforced idleness and hunger always 
bred Huns and Vandales, even in a land of plenty. If 
at this point some ambitious, venturesome and energetic 
leader comes and says to the famished workmen: "You 
are hungry, here is food ; you are poor, there are riches ; 
you are the number, consequently you are the law, take 
what you need"; then will follow scenes of plunder, of 
murder and incendiarism. If that leader possess a 
broad intelligence and succeed in marshaling military- 
like those hungry and malcontent workmen, revolution 



— 32 — 

or civil Avar, which cause incalculable destruction and 
disaster, may result from the long closing of the shops r 
mills and factories. The possibilities of such disturb- 
ances are plainly demonstrated by the history of all the 
nations on earth. 

We have to look to future troubles, against which 
we must provide with the utmost prudence ; for it is by 
foreseeing difficulties from afar that they are easily 
provided against. We must strive to avert for the sake 
of avoiding expenses and troubles. Defer the solution 
of a social problem when such solution is needed is not 
an advantage, for time drives all things before it and 
may lead more to evil than good. To recognize prompt- 
ly evils as they arise and apply the proper remedy is 
one of the rarest gifts of the highest statesmanship. 

In depicting the United States, all the foreign 
economists predict dark fate for the American Kepub- 
lic and generally our own economists emphasize the 
dangers spoken of by the foreign writers. The ravings 
of their pessimism and misanthropism cannot stand and 
resist against the scientific methods of application of 
the laws underlying the complex evolution of a giant 
nation, like ours, toward a brilliant future. Whatever 
may be said of the good or evil disposition of some 
people, or of some religious or political party is of little 
consequence if the Government is well prepared to 
assert and maintain his authority, should they be well 
disposed, and to defend itself if their disposition be 
otherwise. To know people merely by books and news- 
papers is very deceiving, especially concerning the 
American people, the most progressive people in the- 



—33 — 

World. We possess the most intelligent, energetic and 
law-abiding citizens of the world; we have statesmen 
of great abilities, of powerful minds and Lofty charac- 
ter. Each opportunity has been seized a1 the very nick 
of the time. Our government stands for the best com- 
mon interests of the people. In the distribution oi 
wealth, all men arc entitled to an equitable share ac- 
cording to his ability, industry and economy. The 
actual methods which sanction and enforce the distribu- 
tion of wealth are the best we know for the general 
welfare. The wisdom of the methods of governmenl is 
demonstrated by the general tranquillity and pros- 
perity of the country. 

No nation on earth is so generous and so liberal 
toward her servants and workers in general than the 
American people ; that is conclusively proved by in- 
numerable benevolent institutions. The pension system 
for disabled workmen and old age is a feature called to 
become very extensive with the large organizations, 
whether public or private. 

A good step, designed to be extended, has been 
made when the municipalities or charitable private or- 
ganizations in the large cities in industrial centers have 
organized temporary relief works or public kitchens, 
to tide over the destitute wage-earners out of work 
during hard times, whether in the winter season or fol- 
lowing industrial depression. The Romans, the wisest 
people on earth, past and present, with their free dis- 
tributions of grain, acknowledged the necessity of such 
relief so as to lessen the sufferings among the people 
and prevent his revolt. The wealthy nat ions need benev- 



Lof C 



— 34 — 

olenl institutions because the fortune is subject to great 
many accidents; but when the evil is momentary we 
then need aid of the same nature and t lial is applicable 
to the pari icular accident. 

The crop of political evil-doers, burglars, mur- 
derers, highwaymen always very large in countries de- 
prived of benevolent institutions, particularly in the 
hard winter season and in limes of Joug industrial and 
commercia] depression, lacks of its main stimulus with 
a good system of benevolent institutions. It is in hard 
times that the apostles of murder, incendiarism and 
plunder make their numerous recruits. Drastic legis- 
lation never takes the place of common sense preven- 
tive precautions for the security of civil society. 

Everywhere in the world, there are men born, like 
Saturn, to destroy their fe'llow-creatures. When un- 
restricted liberty is granted them they are prone to 
use it to the utmost ; then we see the growth of political 
party, like the Anarchists, who are preaching, far and 
wide with marvelous maestria, the murder of the 
earth's rulers as a sacred duty, and incendiarism as a 
holy rite. This low form of Ciceronian intoxication 
must be treated like other evils. 

The men who are told or think themselves to be 
new Brutuses of every kind and every size, or the new 
Saviors of the world, or are willing to buy cheap fame 
as the Greek who burned down the famous Ephesa's 
temple, are legions everywhere in the world. These 
leu ions are likely to grow with the population, with the 
civilization and with the centuries; taking new reli- 
gious or political names and fancying new evils as the 



- 35 — 

centuries go by, but exactly and eternally with the 
same underlaying motives. No country however rich 
or small is free from them. The danger for organized 
society grows with the energy and intelligence of the 
occasional chiefs who push them to the front on the 
field of battle. That Anarchy is an imported principle 
inimical to American institutions, there is no doubt. 
Patience is the characteristic of our people in seeking 
any reform. It is fixed in their habit to wait for the 
ballot and to submit loyally when their ideas are reject- 
ed at the poll. The Anarchists proselytes are all re- 
cruited in the flood of foreign population invading the 
United States. 

The creation of a penal colony in some distanl 
island where all the convicts of some ten years of hard 
labor, old offenders and hardened criminals could be 
sent would be beneficial to both society and her un- 
worthy members. It would reduce considerably the 
cost of keeping the convicts, therefore, realize a 
notable economy Tor the States, and give tin 1 culprits 
more chance to reform in bending their energy toward 
the development of the natural resources of the island. 
Such penal colony would he an immense improvement 
and a strong step in the direction of higher morality 
and civilization. 

* ••••"•"••■•-••-•-•-•••»■ •••••••••••••• 

SECTARIANISM. 



All the civil organizations have very frequently 
been in conflict with powerful religious organizations 



— 36 — 

Terrible and disastrous wars have resulted from it. At 
all times, history teaches us these religious organiza- 
tions, chiefly when they were monopolizing a country, 
have been the most powerful support that could prop 
a tyranny. 

The aim of every religious systems, whatever name 
they have or take, is invariably the same, — namely, 
domination. 

The Mormon sect offers a striking example how 
powerful can become a small body of men thoroughly 
organized and with wealth and strong centralization. 
The designs of the Mormons are exactly the same as 
those of any precedent or existing religious sect with 
ambitions men at their head. Some years ago, the 
Mormon bishop Lunt gave a conclusive testimony on 
the aim of their association; he said: "Zion is des- 
tined to spread through all the world. Our church 
has been organized only for fifty years, and yet behold 
his wealth and power. We look forward with perfect 
confidence to the day when we will hold the reins of 
the United States Government. Thai is our present 
temporal aim; after that we expect to control the con- 
tinent." The haughty boast brought forth their un- 
doing. 

Similar braggardness carried ruin to the famous 
and powerful organization of the .Jesuits who boasted 
that: "One day will come when we shall be the masters 
of our masters." They were subsequently expelled 
Prom all the Roman Catholic countries: Austria, Brazil, 
[Trance, Italy, Mexico. Spain and other States. 



— 37 — 

The superiority of the civil societies and the char- 
acteristic of all religious organizations proceed from 
their strong centralization, from their admirably or- 
ganized hierarchy and perfect training of their offi- 
cials. However, high centralization is their main 
spring; it has permitted many of them to outlast the 
best organized civil societies. High centralization 
alone enabled the Romanism to fight and resist success- 
fully for centuries his numerous and powerful foes. 
As the Romanism took its hierarchic system from the 
old decayed religious sects it replaced, so the innumer- 
able new religious schemes that spring up almost every 
month model, with very few exceptions, their hierarchic 
systems on the Romanism's. 

Religious organizations are essentially close cor- 
porations held together by a carefully adjusted com- 
munity of selfish interests. Places with good pay and 
with unusual privileges and no work are powerful fac- 
tors in sustaining religious organizations. They grow 
strong with the aid of the g;*eed of the rich and intelli- 
gent citizens, skillfully combined with the ignorance 
and avarice of the poor. 

The weakness of all the religious systems, like its 
strength lies in the unchangeable characteristics of 
human nature. Its chief link of cohesion is human 
selfishness and no other tie is so easily broken. It is 
never disinterested, it is faithful to QO sect. Its reli- 
gious loyalty is a pretense; its devotion to principles a 
sham. They are parasite growths, on imperfect social 
and political conditions, that have already lost greatly 



- 38 



of their social importance and will finally disappear in 
tne light of universal intelligence. 

The aim of all religious sects is to spread igno- 
rance and prejudice, to inculcate the spirit of submiss- 
ion and slavery to enable them to dominate arbitrarily 
The more powerful they become the more hostility they 
show to the civil and republican institutions. Had we 
left the Mormons, few years more, to develop and or- 
ganize their forces we should have had a second civil 



wai 



As no sectarian organization can raise, equip and 
drill, as of yore, any more armies, their wealth and the 
ignorance of the people constitute all their strength. 
It will readily be seen that anything which strikes their 
wealth diminish their power and sometimes vanish it 
totally in spite of the actual number of adherents. 
Although, the law voted by Congress against the Mor- 
mon sect, cut off only about a million dollars it brought 
down their power and influence never to raise again to 
antagonize seriously our Government. It was a good 
move, the best next to expulsion to reduce a recalci- 
trant sect. 

The I. est remedy against fanatism and all religious 
evils is the non-sectarian free public school, of which 
the object is to give the youth up to date knowledge in 
sciences and Letters, principles for right reasoning, 
spirh of independence with intelligence obedience to 
the laws and rightful authority. 



— 39 — 
TRUSTS. 

The tremendous industrial development which has 
taken place during the last thirty years in all civilized 
countries has given a formidable impetus to the or- 
ganization of combinations of all kinds formed for the 
purpose of controlling the output of natural and in- 
dustrial products; for regulating prices or for adjust- 
ing wages. Trusts, monopolies, syndicates, unions, or 
by whatever other names these combinations may be 
known, are not peculiar to either the present age or to 
our country. Trusts are born with the societies. In the 
study of ancient Legislation we find laws dealing with 
many kinds of combinations. In the eighteenth century, 
the history records the monstruous fact that kings 
themselves were at the head of food monopolies, starv- 
ing their people to keep their numerous mistresses in 
opulence. 

In the United States, commercial and industrial 
combinations are of comparatively recent origin, but 
the rapidity with which they have, of late years, been 
formed, indicates tin 1 popularity of a system that exists 
more or less developed among all the nations. Their 
stupendous growth in the United States has called forth 
on them the attention of the people of this country and 
from abroad. The main cause of the commercial and 
industrial combinations is to be found, in this country 
as in others, in business conditions rather than in the 
tariff, as some of the largest and most monopolistic 
combinations have no direct tariff protections. 



— 40 — 

Ruinous excessive competition is the chief cause of the 
formation of agricultural and manufactured products 
combinal ions. 

It is not the purpose of the author to deal lengthi- 
ly on the combination question in the narrow limits set 
for this work. To obtain a comprehensive and thorough 
knowledge of the trusts, monopolies or other combina- 
tions in the United States and prominent nations of the 
world, and guard himself against the superficial and 
dangerous demagogic denunciations of wealth resulting 
from the present agitation against the trusts, the 
Reader is referred to the works published by the In- 
dustrial Commission created by the act of the Congress 
of the eighteenth of June, 1898. These works, on the 
much disputed and controversed questions involved in 
the subject of combinations in restraint of trade and 
competition, comprehend not less than nineteen vol- 
umes, and were closed the tenth of February, 1902. 
They are the most complete and impartial works ever 
published, in the whole world, on all kinds of combina- 
tions. No citizen is entitled to speak sanely and intelli- 
gently about trusts and combinations of all kinds with- 
out having prealably read them carefully. The pub- 
lished works are found in almost all the public libraries. 

No country in the world possesses more stringent 
laws against the trusts and combinations than England 
and France, and yet there they thrive. The latter 
country has devised the most draconian penal legisla- 
tion ever drafted against combinations, but the law is 
applied very leniently, if not at all, especially outside 
of the foodstuffs. Everywhere it has been recognized 



— 41 — 

that the combinations are necessities of the time. There 
;ire laws inapplicable ; where the law does not answer to 
the reality of social rapports, law does not make the 
custom, but the custom does make law. Of course the 
combinations crushing out all healthy competition, es- 
pecially those dealing in primary necessities of life such 
as foodstuffs, must be treated accordingly. Wise reg- 
ulations and restrictions as set forth in the published 
works of the Industrial Commission above mentioned, 
which provide for the strict supervision over corpora- 
tions of all classes and a rigid system of public account- 
ing will prevent much of the evils and abuses arising 
from their operations. 



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